Japanese Writing Kata Names Chart
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1
2Japanese Writing for Kata names
(as used in Tani-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do Kofukan International)
Karate katas have been handed down from person to person and there is no
document or record of origin or proper name for the majority of katas (most
katas originated in China).
When Okinawan masters came to mainland Japan, they tried to make sense for
Japanese people by using some Kanji (Chinese characters) of the same or
similar pronunciation or creating new Japanese names.
So, these Kanji names are new creations and most of them are not the real
names of origin. I understand the curiosity of people, but attempts to make a
correlation between the meaning of a Kanji name and the content of the kata
is nonsensical in most cases.
Some people say that the correct way to write kata names is using Katakana
(Japanese phonetic writing for foreign words).
Firstly, I list the katas which I know are the correct Kanji names:
Shiho Sanshiki
(四方三式)
Roppo Hijiate
(六法肘当)
Pin'an
(平安)
Shodan
(初段)
(二段 / 弐段)
Nidan
*left is modern writing and right is old writing
(三段 / 参段)
Sandan
*left is modern writing and right is old writing
Yondan
(四段)
(五段 / 伍段)
Godan
*left is modern writing and right is old writing
Sanchin
(三戦)
Tensho
(転掌)
Gekisai
(撃砕)
(一 / 壱)
Ichi
*left is modern writing and right is old writing
(二 / 弐)
Ni
*left is modern writing and right is old writing
Juroku / Seiru
(十六)
Matsukaze
(松風)
Aoyagi / Seiryu
(青柳)
Myojo
(明星)
Kosokun / Kusanku
(公相君)
Dai
(大)
Sho
(小)
Shiho
(四方)
Chatan'yara
(北谷屋良)
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